A memorial service is to be held today (July 26) for the 12 taxi drivers who were killed in the mass shooting on the R74 between Colenso and Weenen on Saturday night (July 21).
The taxi they were travelling in was ambushed as they were returning from the funeral of Zwayi Mthembu in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mr Mthembu, a member of Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA), was fatally shot earlier this month.
IPTA chairman Johannes Mkhonza confirmed that out of the 12 people shot dead on Saturday night, 10 were IPTA taxi operators.
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“The other two men were their friends. The taxi operators had gone to their colleague’s funeral and we do not know what went wrong on their way back. We can’t link these killing to taxi violence, because we are not fighting with any other taxi association for routes or any other matter,” explained Mkhonza.
Mkhonza said the association had lost a large number of drivers “in one go”.
Mkhonza said they have arranged a memorial service for the dead to be held at Rabie Ridge Community Hall today (July 26).
The service is due to start at 1pm.
“Our taxi operators are known for their good behaviour and dress code. We are still shocked and saddened by the brutal attack. Innocent people died for what; we don’t know,” he added.
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